Planets In May

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 6

Planets In May

During May the western sky in the early evening will be without planets apart from a very brief glimpse of Mercury. This planet reaches its greatest elongation east of the Sun on May 5. but because of the northerly latitude of the planet this will not be a favourable time to see it from New Zealand. Mercury will set around 6.15 p.m. on May 1. at 6.00 p.m. on May ! 15: and at 5 p.m. on May 31. The midnight sky will be dominated by Jupiter and Mars. The former sets at 3.20 a.m. on May 1; at 2.40 ia.m. on May 15; and at 1.40 [a.m. on May 31. Jupiter will be in the constellation Virgo, the Virgin, and at 9 p.m. on May 26 will be one degree north of the Moon. Mars rises at 7.15 p.m. on May 1 and for the second half of the month will be visible all night. It will remain not far from Antares, the bright star in Scorpius, which constellation was shown on the map in last month’s notes.

Antares is again occulted by the Moon on May 31. It will disappear behind the Moon a few minutes before midnight and will reappear just after 1 a.m. on June 1.

The brilliant Venus will be a striking sight in the morning sky, reaching its greatest brilliancy on May 14. It rises around 5.00 a.m. on May 1: at 4.10 a.m. on May 15; and at 4.00 a.m. on May 31. Saturn is now drawing away from the Sun and can be seen in the morning sky. On May 1 it rises at 6.10 a.m.: on May 15 at 5.20 a.m.; and on May 31 at 4.45 a.m.